Evolvulus plant named ‘USEVO1201’

ABSTRACT

A new and distinct cultivar of  Evolvulus  plant named ‘USEVO1201’, characterized by its compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance; early and freely flowering habit; long flowering period; violet blue-colored flowers; and good garden performance.

Botanical designation: Evolvulus hybrida.

Cultivar denomination: ‘USEVO1201’.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a new and distinct cultivar of Evolvulus plant, botanically known as Evolvulus hybrida and hereinafter referred to by the name ‘USEVO1201’.

The new Evolvulus plant is a product of a planned breeding program conducted by the Inventor in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan and Bonsall, Calif. The objective of the breeding program is to create new compact Evolvulus plants with uniformly mounding plant habit, long flowering period and good garden performance.

The new Evolvulus plant originated from a cross-pollination made by the Inventor on Jul. 15, 2007 in Higashiomi, Shiga, Japan of a proprietary seedling selection of Evolvulus hybrida identified as code name 06E-22, not patented, as the female, or seed, parent with a proprietary seedling selection of Evolvulus hybrida identified as code name 05E, not patented, as the male, or pollen, parent. The new Evolvulus plant was discovered and selected by the Inventor as a single flowering plant within the progeny of the stated cross-pollination in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. on May 23, 2008.

Asexual reproduction of the new Evolvulus plant by terminal cuttings in a controlled environment in Bonsall, Calif. since May 23, 2008 has shown that the unique features of this new Evolvulus plant are stable and reproduced true to type in successive generations.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Plants of the new Evolvulus have not been observed under all possible environmental conditions and various cultural practices. The phenotype may vary somewhat with variations in environmental conditions such as temperature and light intensity without, however, any variance in genotype.

The following traits have been repeatedly observed and are determined to be the unique characteristics of ‘USEVO1201’. These characteristics in combination distinguish ‘USEVO1201’ as a new and distinct Evolvulus plant:

-   -   1. Compact, upright, outwardly spreading and mounding plant         habit.     -   2. Freely branching growth habit; dense and bushy appearance.     -   3. Early and freely flowering habit.     -   4. Long flowering period.     -   5. Violet blue-colored flowers.     -   6. Good garden performance.

The new Evolvulus plant can be compared to plants of the female parent selection. Plants of the new Evolvulus differ primarily from plants of the female parent selection in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Evolvulus are more mounding than plants of         the female parent selection.     -   2. Plants of the new Evolvulus flower earlier than plants of the         female parent selection.

The new Evolvulus plant can be compared to plants of the male parent selection. Plants of the new Evolvulus differ primarily from plants of the male parent selection in flower size as plants of the new Evolvulus have larger flowers than plants of the male parent selection.

Plants of the new Evolvulus can be compared to plants of the Evolvulus ‘American Blue’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Evolvulus differed primarily from plants of ‘American Blue’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Evolvulus were more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘American Blue’.     -   2. Plants of the new Evolvulus flowered earlier than plants of         ‘American Blue’.

Plants of the new Evolvulus can also be compared to plants of the Evolvulus ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’, not patented. In side-by-side comparisons conducted in Bonsall, Calif., plants of the new Evolvulus differed primarily from plants of ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’ in the following characteristics:

-   -   1. Plants of the new Evolvulus were more compact and mounding         than plants of ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’.     -   2. Plants of the new Evolvulus were more freely branching than         plants of ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’.     -   3. Plants of the new Evolvulus flowered earlier than plants of         ‘Hawaiian Blue Eyes’.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE PHOTOGRAPHS

The accompanying colored photographs illustrate the overall appearance of the new Evolvulus plant showing the colors as true as it is reasonably possible to obtain in colored reproductions of this type. Colors in the photographs may differ slightly from the color values cited in the detailed botanical description which accurately describe the colors of the new Evolvulus plant.

The photograph at the bottom of the sheet comprises a side perspective view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USEVO1201’ grown in a container.

The photograph at the top of the sheet is a close-up view of a typical flowering plant of ‘USEVO1201’.

DETAILED BOTANICAL DESCRIPTION

The aforementioned photographs and following observations, measurements and values describe plants grown during the spring in 11.4-cm containers in a polyethylene-covered greenhouse and finished in an outdoor nursery in Bonsall, Calif. During the production of the plants, day temperatures averaged 24° C. and night temperatures averaged 18° C. Plants were seven weeks old when the photographs and description were taken. In the following description, color references are made to The Royal Horticultural Society Colour Chart, 2007 Edition, except where general terms of ordinary dictionary significance are used.

-   Botanical classification: Evolvulus hybrida ‘USEVO1201’. -   Parentage:     -   -   Female, or seed, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Evolvulus hybrida identified as code name 06E-22, not             patented.         -   Male, or pollen, parent.—Proprietary seedling selection of             Evolvulus hybrida identified as code number 05E, not             patented. -   Propagation:     -   -   Type.—By terminal cuttings.         -   Time to initiate roots, summer.—About four days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to initiate roots, winter.—About six days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, summer.—About 23 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 29° C.         -   Time to produce a rooted plant, winter.—About 33 days at             temperatures ranging from 17° C. to 21° C.         -   Root description.—Medium in thickness, fibrous; close to             white in color.         -   Rooting habit.—Moderately freely branching; medium density. -   Plant description:     -   -   Plant and growth habit.—Compact, upright, outwardly             spreading and mounding plant habit; freely branching growth             habit with about 18 lateral branches developing per plant;             dense and bushy appearance; vigorous growth habit.         -   Plant height.—About 13.5 cm.         -   Plant diameter.—About 24 cm by 26 cm. -   Lateral branch description:     -   -   Length.—About 15.6 cm.         -   Diameter.—About 2 mm.         -   Internode length.—About 1.2 cm.         -   Strength.—Strong.         -   Aspect.—Initially upright then falling outwardly.         -   Texture.—Pubescent.         -   Color.—Close to N187B. -   Foliage description:     -   -   Arrangement.—Alternate; simple.         -   Length.—About 3.8 cm.         -   Width.—About 2.4 cm.         -   Shape.—Elliptical to slightly obovate.         -   Apex.—Broadly acute to obtuse.         -   Base.—Attenuate to obtuse.         -   Margin.—Entire.         -   Texture, upper and lower surfaces.—Pubescent.         -   Venation pattern.—Pinnate; arcuate.         -   Color.—Developing leaves, upper surface: Close to 146B.             Developing leaves, lower surface: Close to 147C. Fully             expanded leaves, upper surface: Close to 137A; venation,             close to 137B. Fully expanded leaves, lower surface: Close             to N138B; venation, close to N138C.         -   Petiole.—Length: About 3 mm. Diameter: About 1 mm. Texture,             upper and lower surfaces: Pubescent. Color, upper surface:             Close to 146C. Color, lower surface: Close to 147C. -   Flower description:     -   -   Flower arrangement and habit.—Funnelform sessile flowers             arranged in short condensed spikes; inflorescences terminal             and axillary; freely flowering habit with potentially about             36 to 40 flowers developing per inflorescence, usually only             one or two flowers per inflorescence open at a time; flowers             face upright to slightly outwardly.         -   Fragrance.—None detected.         -   Natural flowering season.—Early flowering habit, plants of             the new Evolvulus begin flowering about six to seven weeks             after planting; plants flower continuously from spring until             frost in California.         -   Flower longevity.—Individual flowers last about one to two             days on the plant; flowers persistent, but abscise when dry.         -   Inflorescence diameter.—About 1.8 cm to 2.2 cm.         -   Inflorescence height.—About 2.5 cm to 3 cm.         -   Flower diameter.—About 2.3 cm.         -   Flower length (height).—About 1.3 cm.         -   Flower throat diameter.—About 4 mm.         -   Flower buds.—Length: About 1.3 cm. Diameter: About 4 mm.             Shape: Obovate to obelliptic. Color: Close to 96C.         -   Corolla.—Arrangement: Five fused petals arranged in a             funnelform shape. Petal lobe length (from throat): About             1.1 cm. Petal lobe width: About 1 cm. Petal shape: Obovate             to spatulate. Petal apex: Rounded. Petal margin: Erose,             ragged. Petal texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous;             velvety. Petal texture, lower surface: Smooth, slightly             pubescent. Throat texture: Smooth, glabrous. Tube texture:             Slightly pubescent. Color: Petal lobe, when opening, upper             surface: Close to 96A. Petal lobe, when opening, lower             surface: Close to 96C. Petal lobe, fully opened, upper             surface: Close to 96C; towards the throat and star pattern             between petal lobes, close to 96A; venation, close to 96C;             color becoming closer to 96D with development. Petal lobe,             fully opened, lower surface: Close to 96D; venation, close             to 96D. Throat: Close to NN155D; venation, close to NN155D.             Tube: Close to NN155A; venation, close to NN155A.         -   Calyx.—Arrangement: One v-shaped calyx tube with five sepals             fused towards the base and arranged in a single whorl. Sepal             length: About 8 mm. Sepal width: About 1 mm. Sepal shape:             Lanceolate. Sepal apex: Acuminate. Sepal margin: Entire.             Sepal texture, upper surface: Smooth, glabrous. Sepal             texture, lower surface: Densely pubescent. Color, upper             surface: Close to 137A. Color, lower surface: Towards the             apex, close to 147A; mid-section and base, close to 147C.         -   Peduncles.—Length: About 2.8 cm. Diameter: About 1.5 mm.             Angle: Upright. Strength: Strong. Texture: Pubescent. Color:             Close to 197C.         -   Reproductive organs.—Stamens: Quantity: About five per             flower. Filament length: About 8 mm. Filament color: Close             to NN155D. Anther shape: Lanceolate. Anther length: About             1.5 mm. Anther color: Close to 196D. Pollen amount: Scarce.             Pollen color: Close to NN155B. Pistils: Quantity: One per             flower. Pistil length: About 1.3 cm. Style length: About             4 mm. Style color: Close to NN155D. Stigma shape: Fine,             bi-parted. Stigma color: Close to NN155C. Ovary color: Close             to 145C. Seeds and fruits: Seed and fruit development have             not been observed on plants of the new Evolvulus. -   Garden performance: Plants of the new Evolvulus have been observed     to have good garden performance and tolerate wind, rain and     temperatures ranging from about 1° C. to about 40° C. -   Pathogen & pest resistance: Plants of the new Evolvulus have not     been observed to be resistant to pathogens and pests common to     Evolvulus plants. 

It is claimed:
 1. A new and distinct Evolvulus plant named ‘USEVO1201’ as illustrated and described. 